Windowpane retainer



Fgb. l, 1955 L. TOTH 2,701,041

WINDOWPANE RETAINER- Filed Nov. 8, 1945 s SheetS -Sheet 2 IIIIIIII/INVENTOR LOU/5 7Z3 777v ATTORNEYS Feb. 1, 1955 L. TOTH WINDOWPANERETAINER United States Patent C) 2,701,041 WINDOWPANE RETAINER LouisToth, Flushing, N. Y. Application November 8, 1945, Serial No. 627,379-7 Claims. (Cl. 189-78) This invention relates to windows of eithercasement, sliding or double hung type, but has particular reference toimprovements in manufacture and design adapted to facilitate economy andconvenience in production and installation of casement windows. Certainfeatures have applicability in sliding sash or other types of windows.

An object of the invention is to provide windows adapted to promotethermal insulation between the at mospheres ambient to'the windowexterior and interior; and consequently to enable installation of aplurality of parallel glass or other translucent window panes in spacedrelationship in and throughout each window frame whenever, as in airconditioned rooms, it is desirable to maintain a dead air space of lowthermal conductivity between such inner and outer panes.

Another feature is the provision of means whereby the emplacement ofwindow panes in their framesus accomplished through the instrumentalityof glazing strips of resilient material which maybe molded or extrudedin the configuration requisite for that purpose.

A further object is to facilitate insertion or replacement of a windowpane or panes, either temporarily, as for cleaning the panes, or forconsiderable periods of time, without the use of putty or similarcaulking material which hardens by aging! Still another object is toeliminate or reduce condensation of moisture upon the frame or panes ofthe window, and to that end, to coat the inside of the window frame whenit is of metallic construction with strips of plastic or other materialwhich has low thermal conductivity, which, at the same time, can bechangeably or permanently colored to match the decorative scheme of theroom interiors.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereafter appear.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a portion of abuilding wall having a window frame comprising two swinging sashesmounted in t, and which structure embodies one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2of Fig. 1, looking in the 51116611011 of the arrows, the view beingbroken away intermediate its ends for compactness of illustration;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken on the line3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 44of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; v

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, 880110113 1 view, taken on the line55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view, taken on the line6-6 of Fig. 1. looking in the direction of the arrows, the view beingbroken away intermediate its ends for compactness of illustration;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view on the line 77 ofFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional v ew, taken on the line8-8 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail in sectional view of a facing strip asapplied to frame, sash or division bar;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a modification of the detail of Fig. 9,showing a metal type of facing strip;

2,701,041 Patented Feb. 1, 1955 Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical viewshowing a section of the base of the window on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in amodification which omits the lower swinging transom sash;

Figure 12 is a detail in sectional view of the slide shoe and hinge ofthe upper swinging sashes; and

Figures 13 to 16 inclusive are cross-sectional views of parts of windowsutilizing modified forms of extruded metal bars, and modified forms ofglazing strips which also incorporate facing members.

In Fig. 1 the building wall 10 is shown as having mounted therein anouter window frame 11 which is subdivided by sash and division bars 12and 13 into side panels 14, a central panel 15, an upper and lowerpanels 16 and 17, the latter being a swinging transom. Both the outerand the inner frames are composed] of metal bars, which may be made byextrusion, having various shapes but some characteristics in common. Forconvenience of reference and comparison these various bars willhereinafter be designated by capital letters, i. e. by A, B, C, D, L, T,2, etc. Some of the bars resemble the letter T, when viewed in crosssection, and accordingly will be designated by that letter. Others areshaped somewhat like the letter Z and will be so designated. Another baris much like the letter L, but with some modifications. Several othershapes of bars bear hardly any resemblance to letters, but willnevertheless be designated, arbitrarily, by a capital letter, e. g. A,B, C, etc.

All of these various shapes comprise an inner flange, designated by 18in each shape, an outer flange 19, and a web 21 which connects the innerand outer flanges in all the various shapes. Some have flangesprojecting from the web 21 intermediate the inner and outer flanges,which intermediate flanges will be numbered 22 or 23. Most of the shapesinclude longitudinal grooves lengthwise of the bars, some of which aredovetail in cross-section and run lengthwise of the web either on one orboth sides; they are numbered 29 in all figures. Other longitudinalgrooves extend along the exposed faces of the inner flanges or theirfaces which form parting surfaces, requiring weather strips, with otherbars framing movable, swingable panels of the window. These grooves arenumbered 30. Most of the variously shaped bars, when assembled as shownin the drawings, form hollow channels between themselves which arenumbered 24.

The vertical bars of the outer shown at L in Figs. 6 and 7, and amodified form at M in Fig. 2. These may be termed anchor bars, for theyare provided with intermediate flange 22 between inner and outer flanges18 and 19 extending, however, from the web 21 in a direction opposite tothat of the terminal flanges. Holes are provided in flange 22 to receivescrews 20 which fasten and anchor the L bars to the building wall inwhich intermediate flange 22 is imbedded, as shown in Figs. 6 and 11.Bar M of Fig. 2 differs from the other L bars in having the intermediateflange 22 projecting from web 21 at a point nearer the longer flange ofbar M instead of nearer the shorter flange, as in the L bar.

In the L bars, a dovetail retaining groove 29 extends along the web 21on the side opposite to flange 22, and is designed and shaped to receiveand retain a pliable glazing strip 26 having a dovetail shaped tongue 31which can be forced into grooves 29 by temporary deformation of thepliable strip 26. The glazing strips may be molded from any suitablepliable material, such as natural or synthetic rubbers, polyvinylplastics, etc. Their shape, in cross-section, may be like the member 26in Fig. 6. The form and function of these strips will be later describedin detail. The L bars also have grooves 30 for the reception andretention of strips 27 of plastic or other thermally non-conductingmaterial, the nature and function of which will also later be explainedin detail.

The lower, horizontal window bar of the: outside frame is that shown atM in Fig. 2, where it constitutes the sill of the window. Bar Mresembles no letter in its crosssection, but may be characterized as abar having a web 21 from each side of which projects either an inner orouter terminal flange 18 and 19 and an intermediate flange 22 and 23. Anoff-set extension of the web, indicated by 21' forms the inner sill ofthe metal frame. Bar M, like window frame 11 are the anchor bar L, has ahole for screw to anchor the M bar to the building.

Another form of construction of the metal bars 18 that illustrated incross-section, for example in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, which consists of innerand outer flanges 18 and 19 oined by a web 21 so as to make a bar havingthe approximate shape of the letter Z. This 2 bar may also be providedwith a dovetailed groove 29 on one or both sides of the web, forreception of the dovetail tongue 31 of the glazing strip 26. ThisZ-shaped bar may also be provided with inclining grooves or hookedindentations on the surface of the inner flange designed for thereception and retention of the tongued facing strips 27 of plastic orsimilar non-conductive material, for the purposes later explained. TheZ-bar 21 may also be provided w1th a booklike projection 36 over whichthe 11p of the glaz1ng str1p is hooked, as in Fig. 3, during the periodwhen an inner glass pane is being placed in the glazing strip. In somecases it will be desirable also to provide a second set 30 of hookedindentations in the Z bar to receive a rubber or other yieldingWeatherstrip at any parting surface of the window. Such strips also formfacing strips for the parting surfaces which may be used to carry outthe decorative effect of the facing strips 27.

A fourth form of window bar is that shown at T in Figs. 2, 3, 6, 8 and11, a cross-section of which resembles the letter T. This T bar may havea longer outer flange and a shorter inner flange, joined by a web 21 asm the former bars, and'longitudinal dovetail grooves 29 may be providedat either one or both sides of the web for the reception of tongues 31of a glazing strip 26, as before described, or of sliding hinges on theopposite side of the web, as in Figs. 2 and 8. The face of the shorterinner flange may also be provided with hooked indentations 30 for thereception either of a facing strip of plastic 27, or of a soft yieldingmaterial such as rubber or felt weatherstrips in those cases where thesurface of the inner flange serves as a parting surface. A hook-like proection 36 for engaging the hooked lip 35 of the glazlng strip 26 duringinsertion of the inner pane is also provided, as shown 1n theillustrations, e. g. Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows still another form of window bar designated by C, whichdiffers somewhat from those prevlously described, and which is used inthose sections of the window frame such as that shown along the line 5-5of Fig. l where it may be desirable to have the inner pane twice thelength of the outer panes. As seen in Fig. 5, this bar 23 consists of anouter flange 18 with two inwardly projecting prongs 23 shaped like theletter J, so disposed that the hooked portions of the J's face oneanother. This arrangement provides an anchorage for the reception andretention in channel 24 of a second form of flexible glazing strip 34having a head 34' which is inserted between the two prongs 23' andhaving, furthermore, two projecting lips 34" and 260 which press againstthe outer panes of the window and hold them in place against the outerflange of the bar, all as illustrated in Fig. 5. It will be noted thatthis arrangement permits use of a long inner pane which spans the rubberglazing strip, as shown in Fig. 5.

At certain sections of the window it is desirable to have greaterstrength in the window frame than at others, for example along the lines4-4 and 8-8 of Fig. 1. I therefore provide reinforcing bars such asthose illustrated in Figs. 4 and 8 of the drawings. They consistessentially of a generally rectangular shaped bar A with a generallyrectangular shaped channel 24 therein, and with two flanges 18 inalignment projecting from the two longer sides of the rectangle. as theouter flange of the window frame for the retention between them and theplastic glazing strip 26 of the outer pane of glass, as shown in eitherFig. 4 or 8. The portion of the rectangular bar structure extending fromthe flanges 18 to the inner face of the bar may be provided with theusual dovetail groove 29 for the reception and retention of the tongueof the glazing strip 26. The inner exposed face of the bar may beprovided with hooked indentations to receive the tongues of facingstrips 27 of plastic, as and for the purpose hereinafter described. Oneor two hooked projections 36, as seen in Fig. 4, may be provided for thedetention of the flexible lip 35 of the glazing strip during theemplacement of the inner pane in the window, as will later be described.Greater strength may be imparted to the window by inserting a short barof steel or iron in the rectangular channel of the A bar, as illustratedThese two projecting flanges serve at 49 in Figs. 1, 4 and 6. This bar,as is indicated in Figs 1 and 6 need only be long enough to extend fromthe outer ends of rectangular channel 29 into the wall to anchor theframe securely thereto. A steel bar 8 inches or 10 inches long at eachside of the frame would suffice for this purpose.

It will be understood that various suitable combinations of thedifferent window bars described herein can be made, and that I do notrestrict myself to the precise combinations of A, C, T, Z, L or otherbars shown in the drawings.

All of these metal bars, which may conveniently be made of extrudedbronze or aluminum, being L,'Z or T shaped generally, are light inweight but nevertheless strong. The economics and convenience inproduction and assembly of windows having high thermal insulatingproperties, in accordance with the object of this invention, are,furthermore, attained by the construction features now to be described.

Use of putty to set and hold the window panes in place in the windowframes has been eliminated by this invention. I fasten and hold thepanes securely in place by use of resilient glazing strips molded fromrubber or a suitable flexible plastic, such as the co-polymer polyvinylchloride-acetate, which has the requisite strength, flexibility,permanence, etc. to meet the requirements. The glazing strip of this ora like material may have a cross-section such as that shown at 26 inFig. 6 where it is provided with a dovetail tongue 31 adapted to enterdovetail grooves such as those at 29 in the bars of the frames, when thetongue of strips 26 is temporarily deformed and then forced into thegroove.

As shown in most of the drawings, the shapes of the dovetails in thegroove 29 and in the strip 26 differ in that the tongue 31 of strip 26is dished or cupped as at 47 in Fig. 4, instead of flat as is theopposing surface 48 of the groove. This configuration imparts a firmerseating of the tongue 31 in its groove and may even cause it to cling tothe groove by providing a vacuum cup and suction effect. These stripsare formed, moreover, with recessed portions 32 and 33, either one orboth of which is adapted to receive the edges of a glass window pane andsecure it in place after the glazing strips have been forced intogrooves 29 of the window bars. The recesses may also be dished, as at 32in Figs. 6 and 8, with a like result.

If two panes disposed in parallel relationship to form a double pane aredesired, i. e. so as to reduce thermal convection in either winter orsummer, then the outer pane is secured in place between the outer flange19 of the window bar and the recessed portion 32 of the glazing strip26; the inner pane is held in place in proper spaced relationship inrecess 33 of strip 26. To facilitate insertion of the inner pane, thehooked lip portion 35 of strip 26 is bent inwardly and may be held inplace, temporarily, by hooking it over the projection 36 as shown inFigs. 2, 3, 4, 7 and 11. The inner pane can also be removed,temporarily, for cleaning purposes by hooking lip 35 over projection 36when desired.

It will be understood that the outer pane may be inserted in the frameso as to abut against outer flange 19 of the bar, and the resilientglazing strips can then be inserted, by forcible pressure of tongues 31into grooves 29, followed, if desired, by emplacement of an inner panein recesses 33 of strips 26.

Joining of strips 26 to the inner edges of the window bars is effectedby temporary deformation of tongues 31 and their forcible pressure intogrooves 29 which extend along the inner edges of the webs joining theflanges of the window bars. These grooves may be dovetailed or have anyother shape suitable to join the flexible strips firmly to the bars.

The inner exposed surfaces of any of the bars when they are made ofmetal and have high thermal conductivity therefore, may be so formed,moreover, as to facilitate attachment thereto of facing strips 27 ofplastic or other coating material. These strips are designed both toreduce thermal conductivity and to provide a decorative effect on theinner window frame. They are therefore suitably colored for thatpurpose. Strips 27 may be aflixed to the inner surfaces of the bars byinsertion of their tongues into grooves such as those at 30, or may beglued to the inner flanges. A heavy coating of a liquid non-conductor,which solidifies on drying may also be sprayed on the exposed innersurfaces of the bars. The coating or strips thus promote thermalinsulation, reduce or preclude condensation, or sweating of moisture onthe bars whenever the metal portion thereof is at a lower temperaturethan the dew point temperature of the air of the room, and provide apermanent decorative facing which will not chip or peel off, as wouldpaint or other coatings which blister by moisture condensation, or rapidchanges in temperature.

Figs. 9 and 10 show, on an enlarged scale, the manner in which pliableweather strips of rubber or felt 28 or, alternately, strips 28' (Fig.10) of stainless steel, are mortised into other sets of grooves 30 inthe parting faces of the swinging panels or transoms of the window towaterproof them. This feature is included also in other figures of thedrawings at the proper locations. It will be observed that the surfaceof the rubber or felt weather strips 28 of Fig. 9 is finely serrated.This feature imparts a velvety surface to the pliable material with theresult that contact and forcible pressure thereon, of the frame of themetal member which effects a closure, insures a tight and waterproofseal along the edge of the swinging sash.

Because of the tubular nature of the window bars when they areassembled, the hinges, pivots, or other hardware of the frame can beconcealed within the channels of the frame, instead of being externalthereto as in prior constructions. Damage during transportation bydeformation of protruding parts is thereby avoided. The construction ofthe window is such that it can be assembled in the factory, althoughemplacement of the glazing strips and of the window panes can also beeffected in the field when desired. It will be noted that because of thepliable nature of the glazing strips disclosed by this invention,expansion and contraction of the frame and/or of the glazing thereof,will be automatically compensated for without injury to the parts of theframe or diminution of its water and weatherproof character. I

As shown in Figs. 13 to 16, I may use a modified form of joint betweenthe window bars and glazing strips. In this construction I substitute aprojection 37 shaped somewhat like the letter J for the dovetail tongueof the pliable strip 38, and also impart a J shape to the complementarygroove 39 in the inner edge of the window bar. Because of its pliablenature the J shaped tongue can be forced to enter and then seat in the Jshaped groove.

The recesses in the strips for the reception of the edges of the windowpanes can be shaped, of course, much the same as those already describedwith minor modifications such as those shown at 40 and 41 to adapt thisalternate construction to modified shapes of window bars. In suchmodifications I may substitute for the inner flanges of the barspreviously described an anchor-shaped hooked termination to the inneredge of the web of the bars, so as to produce a structure like thoseillustrated at 42 in Figs. 14 and 15. The J shaped tongue 37 of theglazing strip 38 will, of course, enter and hook into the J shapedgrooves 39 formed by the arms and fiukes of the anchor 42, when pressureis applied to force such entry.

The anchor-like termination may be joined to the inner edge of the web,at one end of the stock of the anchor, as at 43 in Fig. 14, and 44 inFigs. and 16, or a single J-shaped retaining groove may be provided atthe inner edge of the web, as is shown for example at '44 in Figs. 13 to16. The facing strips 27 and weatherstrips 28 may be integral parts ofglazing strip 38, as is shown in Figures 14 and 15, and the lip 35 ofpliable glazing strip 38 may be bent inwardly and held in place by thesnap strips arrangement at 45.

In Fig. 13 the lip 35 of the glazing strip 38 at the left of the figureis in its normal position to hold an inner pane of glass in place. Inall other portions of Figs. 13 to 16 lip 35 is bent and snapped open forreception or removal of an inner pane.

While I have herein illustrated and described in detail certainpreferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that changes maybe made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention. Theentire window frame, the sash and all division bars may thus beconstructed of wood instead of metal, and the window may be of thedouble hung, sliding sash type, instead of the easement type, withoutmaterial change in the character of the grooves and tongues of thewindow bars or of the glazing or facing strips. I accordingly do notlimit myself to the specific constructions illustrated, but intend tocover my invention broadly by the following claims, in whatever form itsprinciples may be embodied.

I'claim:

1. In combination in a window adapted to promote thermal insulation inopenings in external walls of buildings, a frame including sash anddivision bars having longitudinal dovetailed grooves, thermalnon-conducting, resilient glazing strips having longitudinal recessesand tongues, said tongues being inserted by temporary deformationthereof into the grooves of said bars, thereby joining said strips andbars, and inner and outer window panes, one of said panes having itsedges inserted into recesses in said strips and the other pane havingits edge inserted into recesses formed between parts of the glazingstrips and parts of the sash, thereby retaining said panes in spacedrelation so as to enclose a dead air space between said panes, andthermal non-conducting strips of material covering exposed surfaces ofsaid bars, so as to lessen thermal conductivity therethrolugh.

2. In combination in a casement window adapted to promote thermalinsulation in openings in external walls of buildings, a frame includingsash and division bars having longitudinal dovetailed grooves, thermalnon-conducting, resilient glazing strips having longitudinal recessesand tongues, said tongues being inserted by temporary deformationthereof into the grooves of said bars, thereby joining said strips andbars, inner and outer window panes, one of said panes having its edgesinserted into recesses in said strips and the other pane having its edgeinserted into recesses formed between parts of the glazing strips andparts of the sash, thereby retaining said panes in spaced relation so asto enclose a dead air space between said panes, thermal non-conductingstrips of material covering exposed surfaces of said bars, so as tolessen thermal conductivity therethrough, and resilient weather stripscovering contact surfaces of swinging sections of said window.

3. In a window frame in combination, a metal bar having inner and outerflanges connected by a web perpendicular thereto, a dovetailed grooveextending longitudinally of a side of said web and a glazing strip ofpliable material having a dovetailed tongue inserted in said groove,said glazing strip having a body cooperating with a part of said framebar to engage and position a window pane, said glazing strip having ahooked resilient lip forming a part thereof said lip normally extendingalong side of said body portion to cooperate therewith so as to form agroove for holding the second window pane, said lip being bendable to aposition in which said second pane may be removed or inserted, and aflange projecting from one of the flanges of the metal bar forengagement with the hook on the lip of said glazing strip when said lipis bent to said second position.

4. In combination, in a window adapted to promote thermal insulation inopenings in external walls of buildings, a frame including metal sashand division bars having longitudinal dovetailed grooves therein andhaving winow pane seats on the sides of said bars towards the outside ofthe building, thermal insulating glazing strips of resilient plasticmaterial having base tongues extending longitudinally thereof andinserted by temporary deformation into the grooves of said bars therebyjoining said strips and bars, said glazing strips having body portionscoacting with the pane seats of said bars for retaining window panestherebetween, and plastic thermal insulating coverings for the exposedsurfaces of said bars at the inside of the building, said coveringsincluding in part at least portions of said glazing strips, saidcoverings for said bar surfaces serving to lessen the conductivitythrough said bars to prevent or decrease condensation on said barsinteriorly of the building.

5. A glazing strip adapted to removab ly secure a plurality of panes ina window frame comprising a strip of resilient plastic material having adeformable dovetailed tongue on the outer side thereof adapted to beforced into and cling to a dovetailed groove in a window bar, said striphaving a body projecting inwardly from said dovetailed formation, oneside of said body being formed to engage a window pane, said strip alsoincluding a resilient lip extending inward from said dovetailedformation along side of the opposite face of said body so as to form agroove for receiving the edge of a second pane, said lip havingsufficient resiliency when laterally unsupported to 7 1 retain saidsecond pane, but being temporarily bendable to a retracted positionpermitting insertion or removal of said second pane without removal ofthe glazing strip from the window bar, the free edge of said resilientlip being provided with a holding formation and a formation on thewindow for engagement with said holding formation, said formations whenengaged holding said lip in said retracted position.

6. In a window frame in combination, a metal bar having inner and outerflanges connected by a T-shaped web perpendicular thereto, a dovetailedgroove extending longitudinally of a side of said web and a glazingstrip of pliable material having a dovetailedtongue inserted in saidgroove, said glazing strip having a body cooperating with a part of saidframe bar to engage and position a window pane, said glazing striphaving a resilient lip forming a part thereof, said lip normallyextending along side of said body portion to cooperate therewith so asto form a groove for holding the second window pane, said lip beingbendable to a position in which said second pane may be removed orinserted, and a flange projecting from one of the flanges of the metalbar for engagement with the hook on the lip of said glazing strip, whensaid lip is bent to said second position.

7. In a window frame in combination, a metal bar having inner and outerflanges connected by a Z-shaped web perpendicular thereto, a dovetailedgroove extending longitudinally of a side of said web and a glazingstrip of pliable material having a dovetailed tongue inserted in saidgroove, said glazing strip having a body cooperating with a part of saidframe bar to engage and position a window pane, said glazing strip,having a resilient lip forming a part thereof, said lip normallyextending along side of said body portion to cooperate therewith so asto form a groove for holding the second window pane, said lip beingbendable to a position in which said second ane may be removed orinserted, and a flange projecting rom one of the flanges of the metalbar for engagement with the hook on the lip of said glazing strip, whensaid lip is bent to said second position.

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